BOSTON — Shortly before last call at many bars outside Beacon Hill, the legislature sent a massive economic development bill to the governor's desk that creates 75 new liquor licenses for bars and restaurants in Boston and returns local control over the licensing board to the city.

The bill's passage is the most significant change to liquor licensing in Boston since a 2006 bill that simply expanded the number of liquor licenses for bars and restaurants by 55. (A full explanation of the costs and history of owning a liquor license in Boston can be found here.)

The 75 new licenses are restricted by the bill to areas currently underserved by bars and restaurants. The bill focuses on the neighborhoods of Dorchester, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan and Roxbury. Parts of East Boston and Mission Hill are also expected to benefit from the new bill. The bill contains language that does not make the licenses transferable outside the designated areas.

The bill will add 60 new full liquor licenses and 15 beer and wine licenses over the course of three years. No more than 25 new licenses will be issued each year.

The bill brings an end to a law with anti-Irish Catholic origins, pushed by Yankees and Brahmins in the early part of the 20th century, that limited Boston's control over the issuing of its own liquor licenses.

Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh will become the first Boston mayor to retain full control over the licensing board since 1906. Walsh noted in a statement that the bill finally treats Boston like all other cities and towns in the Commonwealth by giving it full control over its ability to issue liquor licenses.

"Despite high demand, the City of Boston has not received a cap increase on liquor licenses since 2006. A lack of licenses has hindered further economic growth in our neighborhoods, supporting robust spaces where people want to live, work, shop and eat. Because of this legislation, the City of Boston will have the ability to support small and local businesses in neighborhoods that historically have had less access to licenses," said Walsh in a statement.

The bill originally took shape in the Boston City Council chambers when At-Large City Councilor Ayanna Pressley submitted a home rule petition before the end of the 2013 session calling for dramatic changes to how the city handles and issues liquor licenses.

Pressley, reached by phone yesterday before the bill's passage, praised the legislation as transformative for the city.

"This bill is not about alcohol, it's about jobs and entertainment. This bill will provide people with more dining and late night options in parts of the city that don't have them, but most importantly, it will create jobs in those areas, too," said Pressley.

The legislation was initially sponsored in the House by State Representative Russell Holmes.

Before the vote Holmes said that he wanted to see more liquor licenses for the city but that he was happy with the 75 new ones.

"This gives us a chance to prove this concept and see if it's effective. What we have now is better than nothing," said Holmes.